Why were five Supreme Court judges suspended in 1988?

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Five Supreme Court Judges Were Suspended Following a Court Order Regarding a Tribunal's Recommendation

In 1988, five Supreme Court judges faced suspension after issuing a court order to temporarily halt a tribunal. This tribunal was tasked with providing a recommendation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong concerning the then Lord President, Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas. Following these events, Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas was subsequently removed from his position.
The Immediate Cause of Suspension

The suspension of the five judges stemmed directly from their decision to issue an interim court order. This order was specifically aimed at preventing a tribunal from submitting its findings or recommendations regarding the Lord President, Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas, to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The judges' action represented an intervention in the process concerning the leadership of the judiciary at that time.
The Removal of the Lord President

The suspension of the judges occurred in the context of proceedings that ultimately led to the removal of Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas from his role as Lord President. While the article does not detail the specific grounds for the tribunal's recommendation or the subsequent removal, it clearly links these events to the broader 1988 judicial crisis. This crisis is identified as one of the most significant challenges faced by Malaysia's judiciary.
Broader Context of the 1988 Judicial Crisis

The events of 1988 are remembered as a severe crisis that profoundly impacted Malaysia's judicial system. At the time, the Chief Justice Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, then a lawyer and secretary of the Terengganu Bar Committee, displayed a car sticker expressing respect for the five suspended judges. This gesture highlights the significant impact of the crisis on legal professionals and the public's perception of the judiciary's independence. The judiciary and the legal community have since worked to rebuild public confidence following this period.

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Why were five Supreme Court judges suspended in 1988?

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